Penn's tenth-ranked basketball team almost lost twice in the last four days, but comebacks saved the Quakers both times and they now have undisputed possession of first place in the Ivy League.

Penn led Columbia. 51-39. with six minutes left in their game Monday night, but a rally by the Lions put them ahead. 52-51. four minutes later. Penn retaliated by out scoring Columbia, previously unbeaten in league play, 6-0. in the final minutes for the crucial win.

The Quakers are now 6-0 in Ivy play, and will probably take the title for the first time four years though they must face Columbia again on February 27 in Philadelphia.

Letdown

What coach Dick Harter must now worry about is an emotional letdown, which could cause his team to lose to one of the league's several weaker teams. This almost happened to Penn in its game Saturday against Cornell. The Big Red led throughout the game until a light Penn press late in the second half gave the Quakers the lead and eventually, a narrow victory.

The team expected to be battling for the championship with Columbia and Penn was Princeton, but the Tigers are all but eliminated already. They lost twice to Penn, and Saturday they bowed to Columbia by 20 points when they had to play without Jeff Petrie, their co-captain and an All-Ivy selection.

Harvard will host both Penn and Princeton in night games this weekend. The Crimson is now seeking a second Ivy win after downing Brown five days ago.

Blind

But just as the blind follow the blind. Brown also won its first game in Ivy competition the following night in a seesaw contest against Dartmouth, a team which has beaten Harvard twice. The Indians shot a dismal 34 per cent from the floor to help the Bruins accomplish the upset.

So now Harvard, Cornell, and Brown all share 1-5 records. Dartmouth is in fifth with three wins and three losses.

Yale's third place standing is somewhat surprising, but when one considers that the Elis have played Brown twice, and Cornell and Harvard once each, it's a bit easier to understand.